Nutcracker having a solenoid actuated jaw



y 1955 L. H. JOHNSON ETAL 2,707,503

NUTCRACKER HAVING A SOLENOID ACTUATED JAW Filed Aug. 4, 1951 FIG. I.

INVENTORS. LEALAA /D JOHNSON AND WESLEY w. HILL BY M A TTORNEY.

Unite States Patent NUTCRACKER HAVING A SOLENQID ACTUATED JAW This invention pertains to nut crackers, and is concerned more particularly with the application of power drive to such a cracker.

An object of this invention is to provide a nut cracker with power to operate it so as to be less fatiguing to the 9 operator.

Another object is to provide such a power drive arranged so that the pressure applied to the nut may be controlled.

In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a v

solenoid is provided having a plunger movable into the coil when the latter is energized. The plunger carries a cracker jaw which moves toward a fixed, but adjustable, opposing jaw to crack a nut between said jaws. By adjusting the fixed jaw toward or away from the other jaw the latter may be made to engage the nut at different points of its travel and, therefore, under ditferent pressures.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts in section, of a nut cracker embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a left-hand end view of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a right-hand end view with the cover shown in section.

Referring now to the drawing, 1 designates a base on which the several parts are mounted. Mounted on posts 2 on the base 1 is a solenoid 3 having a core 4, which may be laminated as indicated in Fig. 4. A plunger 5 is movable into the coil 3, through a suitable opening in the core 4, when said coil is energized. The plunger 5 is automatically retracted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by a spring 6 bearing at one end against the core 4 and at the other against a plate 7 secured to the end M of the plunger.

The plunger 5 has formed thereon or secured thereto a shank 8 of reduced diameter. The end of this shank is slidably supported in a bearing 9 on the base. Mounted on the end of the shank 8 is a cracker jaw 10 having a suitable surface for engaging a nut to crack the same.

Slidably mounted in a pedestal 11 on the base 1 is a shank 12 carrying at its inner end a cracker jaw 13 positioned in opposed relation to the jaw 10 so that the nut to be cracked may be received between them. The base 1 may be formed with a trough 14 in which the lower portions of the jaws 10 and 13 may move and which may also provide a cradle between them to receive the nut. The shank 12 may be provided with notches 15 engageable by a spring pressed detent 16 to hold the jaw 13 in any adjusted position. The detent 16 may be manipulated by a handle 17 and the shank 12 by a handle 18.

A push-button switch 19, connected in circuit with the coil 3 and a supply cable 20, controls the energization of the solenoid. The cable 20 may be connected to any suitable electric supply circuit. A cover 21 may be provided to house the solenoid.

coil, it is zero.

in the operation of this device the jaw 13 is adjusted to the desired position, which may be found by trial, according to the size of the nut to be cracked. The nut is then placed between the jaws 10 and 13 and the switch 19 is closed, whereupon the plunger 5 moves into the coil 3 under the impulse of its magnetic field. This moves the jaw 10 to the left, Figure 1, against the nut which is compressed between the two jaws to crack it.

Since the force exerted on the plunger 5 by the magnetic field on the coil 3 varies as its position in the coil changes, this action can be made use of to control the pressure on the nut. This force increases as the plunger moves into the coil, reaching a maximum and thereafter dropping 01? until, when the plunger is centered in the If the plunger is moved still further a negative pull is exerted. Thus, by adjusting the position of the jaw 13 the nut may be positioned so as to be engaged by the jaw 10 at any point of its travel and under the force and impact momentum of the plunger at that position.

It will be seen that the fatigue of the operator will be at a minimum since the only action necessary is to place the nut in position and press the switch 19. This switch may also be arranged as a foot switch if desired.

We claim:

1. In a power nut cracker, a base, a horizontal troughlike member mounted on said base and provided at one end with a fixed support having an opening therein alined centrally of the trough-shaped member, a shank slidable through said opening and having a serrated bottom face, a nut receiving jaw on said shank and slidable in the trough-shaped member, a detent mounted in the fixed support transversely of the shank, said detent being movable into and out of selective engagement with said serrations, spring means maintaining said detent in such engagement, a cooperating nut receiving jaw confronting the first nut receiving jaw and slidable along said troughshaped member, a solenoid core mounted on said base in alinement with the nut receiving jaws and having an opening therethrough, solenoid windings surrounding said core for energizing the core upon the passage of current through the windings, a plunger mounted in said core and normally projecting from the end thereof, remote from the fixed support, spring means normally holding said plunger in said projected position, and a shank carried by said plunger and supporting the second mentioned nut receiving jaw.

2. A nut cracker comprising, a horizontal base having a trough extending along its upper face, a fixed pedestal upstanding on said base at one end thereof having a passage therethrough, a cracker jaw having a shank movably mounted in said passage, detent means adjustably fixing said shank in said passage, a plunger bearing mounted on said base above said trough opposite said pedestal, a plunger movable in said bearing and carrying a second cracker jaw facing said first jaw, said plunger having a reduced portion engaging said bearing and an enlarged portion therebeyond, and a solenoid mounted on said base adjacent said bearing so as to surround said plunger, whereby energization of said solenoid operates said plunger to crack a nut in said trough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 910,834 Lynn Jan. 26, 1909 1,254,119 Chamberlain et a1. Jan. 22, 1918 1,526,593 French Feb. 17, 1925 1,983,388 Moore Dec. 4, 1934 2,174,080 Davis Sept. 26, 1939 2,506,822 Williamson May 9, 1950 

